Roller leveller covered by endless resilient belt



July 21, 1959 J. H. GETTIG 2,395,532

ROLLER LEVELLER COVERED BY'ENDLESS RESILIENT BELT Filed July 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 II- la i.

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w ATTORNEYS J. H. GETTIG July 21, 1959 ROLLER LEVELLER COVERED BY ENDLESS RESILIENT BELT Filed July 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uwum mm Maw. Q u Om QQ JJAQ INVENTQR AM ATTORNEYS J. H. GETTIG July 21 1959 ROLLER LEVELLER COVERED BY ENDLESS RESILIENT BELT Filed July 15, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ROLLER LEVELLER COVERED BY ENDLESS RESILIENT BELT Joseph H. Gettig, Malvern, Pa., assignor to Sutton Engineering Company, Bellefonte, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 13, 1955, Serial No. 521,865

4 Claims. (Cl. 153-104) This invention relates to straightening apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for the high-speed straightening of long lengths of thin material, such as bars, rounds, and the like. It is particularly applicable to the straightening of concrete reinforcing bars, and similar stock, which is ideally adapted to fabrication in coil form if it can be subsequently straightened when uncoiled; but which, because of an outer surface that is intentionally made uneven by embossed patterns or protuberances thereon, cannot be straightened in conventional apparatus Without marring or destroying that outer surface.

Accordingly, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, this invention will be described in connection with the straightening of coiled concrete reinforcing bar, it being understood that it is equally applicable to other ferrous or nonferrous metal products having a small cross-section relative to their length. Concrete reinforcing bar has a surface that is embossed, or provided with protuberances, in the course of its manufacture so as to provide a locking engagement between the bar and the concrete in which it is embedded for reinforcing purposes. Heretofore, such reinforcing bar, usually having a diameter of around or larger, has had to be completely fabricated and cut to required length in the mill and then shipped in bundles. It is apparent that this material, from the standpoint of the ratio between its diameter and length, is ideally suited to be fabricated in coils and stored and shipped in that form, to be subsequently uncoiled and straightened and then cut into required lengths. Such a procedure has not heretofore been practicable, however, because conventional straightening apparatus is unable to handle the material at the high rates comparable to its delivery from the fabricating rolls in the mill, and would also tend to mar or destroy the uneven outer surface of such reinforcing bars, making them unfit for their intended use.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide straightening apparatus that will be capable of handling at high speed long lengths of bars, flats, rounds, and the like, which have intentionally irregular outer surfaces, as from embossed patterns or protuberances, without marring or destroying those surfaces in any way.

Other objects will appear from the following specification, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the attached drawings.

In those drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the straightening apparatus of this invention, together with certain auxiliary devices;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along the line IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section along the line VV of Fig. 3;

I ate 2,895,532 Patented July 21, 1959 Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, along the line VIVI of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

In accordance with this invention, the straightening apparatus broadly comprises a group of staggered and opposed rolls, in which all of the roll axes are parallel. This group of rolls includes a first set of spaced rolls having their axes lying in one plane and a second set of spaced rolls disposed opposite to those in the "first set and in staggered relation thereto. The rolls of the second set are preferably individually adjustable towards and away from the opposed rolls of the first set. An endless belt of resilient material surrounds the rolls of each set, and means are provided for turning the rolls and for delivering the stock to be straightened between the belts supported by the opposed sets of rolls. The foregoing apparatus will straighten stock relative to a single plane and will satisfactorily straighten stock that is relatively much wider than it is thick. However, in straightening substantially round or square stock, it is desirable to straighten the stock in two planes at right angles to each other. This is done by passing the stock through a second group of staggered and opposed rolls, similar to the first group, but having its roll axes disposed at right angles to the roll axes of the first group.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a reel 1, on which is wound a coil 2 of concrete reinforcing bar. The reel is supported on a stand 3, which also supports a motor 4 for braking the reel when uncoil-ing the bar stock therefrom. As it is uncoiled, the bar stock 5 is lead under tension through feed rolls comprising an upper pair of rolls 6 and a lower pair 7, each pair being surrounded by an endless belt 8 of resilient material, such as reinforced vulcanized rubber, for gripping the bar stock tightly without marring the embossed patterns and protuberances thereon. Preferably, each belt has its outer surface contoured as shown at 9 in Fig. 3 to correspond roughly to a half section of the stock being straightened and is retained within flanges 10 of the rolls.

After passing through the feed rolls, the bar stock is introduced into the first group of "straightening rolls, which includes two sets of opposed and staggered rolls having all of their axes parallel. Each set includes a plurality of rolls, the first (lower) set 20 having three fixed rolls with all of their axes in the same plane; and a second (upper) set 21 having four rolls disposed opposite those of the first set and in staggered relation thereto. Preferably, each roll of the second set is individually adjustable towards and away from the opposed rolls of the first set, as hereinafter described; but, if desired, their axes could be initially disposed in a common plane (which would be tilted with respect to the plane of the axes of the first set of rolls) and one set of rolls made adjustable as a unit towards and away from the other set. Surrounding each set of rolls is an endless belt 22 of resilient material, similar to that already described in connection with the feed rolls, and likewise having its outer surface contoured to receive the stock to be straightened. As shown in Fig. 3, when the opposed belts of each set of rolls are in contact with each other, they define a pass conforming roughly to the cross section of the bar stock, yet have sufficient resilience to accommodate variations in that cross section due to the embossed patterns or protuberances thereon.

As shown in Fig. 4, the rolls of the second (upper) set 21 are so adjusted vertically relative to the rolls of the first (lower) set 20 that the pass line defined by the opposed belts of the two sets forms .a sinuous curve in a vertical plane with its curvature gradually decreasing from left to right in the direction of travel of the bar relative to a plane at right angles thereto.

stock. This disposition of the rolls is in accordance with general straightening practice, in which the stock is initially deformed in one plane (here a vertical plane) and that deformity gradually removed to straighten the stock Accordingly, when the stock leaves the first group of straightening rolls, it will have been straightened so that it will lie flat in a horizontal plane.

To straighten the bar stock in a plane at right angles to the above, a second group of straightening rolls is disposed after the first group so that the bar stock will pass successively through both groups of straightening rolls. This second group of rolls is similar to the first group, consisting of two sets of opposed and staggered rolls having all of their axes parallel; but, in this case,

those axes are perpendicular to the roll axes of the first group. As in the first group, the rolls of the first set 25 in the second group are mounted in a fixed position with their axes in one plane, while the rolls of the second set 26 are individually adjustable towards and away from the opposed rolls of the first set. Alternatively, the rolls of one set may be adjustable as a unit relative to the rolls of the other set, as previously described in connection with the first group of rolls. Each set of rolls in the second group, like those in the first group, is surrounded by an endless belt 27 of resilient material with a similarly contoured outer surface. When the bar stock is passed through the second group of straightening rolls, it is deformed and then straightened, as described in connection with the first group, except that the deformation and straightening will occur in diiferent planes. Accordingly, when the bar stock leaves the second group of rolls, it will have been entirely straightened.

After leaving the second group of straightening rolls, the bar stock is led through a tubular guide 30 to a flying shear 31, where it is cut into suitable lengths, and then through a second tubular guide 32 to a set of pinch rolls 33, which conduct the severed lengths of stock to a delivery table 34. None of the apparatus described in this paragraph forms any part of this invention, and further details of its operation and construction need not be explained.

The first group of straightening rolls, which are shown in the drawings as having their axes in a horizontal plane, (although it is apparent that the two groups could be interchanged) is supported in a conventional housing 40 (see Figs. 3 and The rolls of the lower set 20 are fixed, while each roll of the upper set 21 can be vertically adjusted in the housing by raising or lowering the roll chocks 41 by means of screws 42 operated by a hand wheel 43 through appropriate gearing 44. Preferably, each roll in the group is individually driven through the usual universal joints 45 and spindles 46 by an electric motor '47 and conventional gear reduction apparatus 49. However, since the rolls of each set are connected by a belt, and since that belt is tightly pressed against the roll faces by the opposing rolls of the other set, it is possible to operate all the rolls of one set by driving only one roll therein.

Each roll of the upper pair 6 of feed rolls is individually adjustable to and from the opposed lower pair 7 in the same manner as has just been described in connection with the first group of straightening rolls. In addition, Each of the feed rolls is provided with a similar individual rive.

The second group of straightening rolls has not only one set therein individually adjustable with respect to the other set, but also the entire group of rolls is adjustable, both vertically and horizontally, with respect to the first group of rolls in order to accommodate different sizes of material to be straightened. Accordingly, this second group of rolls (see Fig. 6) is mounted in a housing 50, which is in turn mounted on a base 51 resting on a bed plate 52. The base 51 can be lowered or elevated relative to the bed plate by the screws 53, which are operated by rotating threaded collars (not shown) within the collar housings 54 by means of a lever 55. This lever is connected through ratchet gearing 56 to a worm drive and gearing (not shown) for turning the threaded collars. The base 51 is maintained in proper alignment by stub shafts 57 secured to the bed plate 52 and slidably received in sleeves 58 in the base.

The housing 50 of the second group of rolls is supported on the base 51 by horizontal guide bars 60 and can be slidably moved thereon by means of a threaded screw 61, which engages a threaded portion of the housing 50 and is turned by a crank 62. Accordingly, by means of lever 55 and crank 62, it is possible to adjust the housing 50 of the second group of rolls both horizontally and vertically so that the center of the pass line defined by the belted rolls in that group can be made to coincide with the center of the pass line of the first group of rolls in handling stock of varying diameters. In addi tion, the rolls in one of the sets of the second group of straightening rolls are individually adjustable with respect to the opposed rolls in the other set of that group. This is accomplished by laterally adjusting the individual roll chocks 65 of the left hand set of rolls, as shown in Fig. 6, by means of a screw 66 in the housing 50, the screw being provided with a crank receiving head 67 on its outer end.

While the axes of the rolls in the second group are vertical, the drives are horizontal, and there is preferably a separate drive for each roll. Each roll is mounted on a short vertical shaft 70, on the lower end of which is secured a bevel gear 71. This bevel gear engages a second bevel gear '72 on the end of a horizontal shaft 73, which is in turn driven by spur gears 74 and 75. Spur gear 75 is mounted on a horizontal splined drive spindle 76, connected to the reduction gear 77 (see Fig. 2) and the motor 47. Since the left hand set of rolls is slidably mounted in the housing (see Fig. 7), the horizontal shafts 73 connected to the rolls of that set are also splined.

Among the advantages of the belt surrounded rolls, particularly the straightening rolls, of this invention is the fact that they permit the stock being straightened to be firmly gripped between the rolls without marring, or otherwise destroying, the embossed patterns or protuberances on the outer surface of the material. In addition, the opposed belts on each group of rolls form a continuous confined pass for the bar stock, and act as a guide for the stock (see Fig. 4). This guide means is particularly advantageous in preventing the end of the bar stock, when introduced between the belts, from curling around any roll in any set and restraining it to the path defined by the opposed belts. In other words, if the rolls were merely individually cushioned, the bar stock when introduced between the initial rolls 80 and 81 (see Fig. 4) of the first group of rolls (or any other group) might tend to strike the second roll 82 of the upper set at point A, with resulting severe damage to the cushion around that roll and possible loss of control over the end of the stock.

In straightening flat stock, in which the width of the stock is relatively much greater than the thickness, only the first group of straightening rolls need be used, and there would not be as much need to have contoured surfaces on the belts surrounding each set of rolls. Any embossed patterns on the fiat stock would be preserved without marring when straightened in accordance with this invention.

It is a further advantage of this invention that it permits material to be fabricated, shipped, and stored in coil form, with all of the attendant economies of fabrication resulting therefrom, where such practice has not heretofore been practicable for reasons already adverted to. As a result, material can then be uncoiled, straightened, and cut to desired". lengths at a point nearer the place. of ultimate use than is possible under present practice and, because of the: design herein described,

such uncoiling, straightening, and cutting can be done at high speed, comparable to the speed with which the stock is fabricated by the mill.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for straightening concrete reinforcing bars having spaced surface protuberances, comprising a group of staggered and opposed bending rolls having all of their axes parallel and including a first set of spaced rolls and a second set of spaced rolls disposed opposite to those of the first set and in staggered relation thereto, and a separate endless belt of resilient material surrounding each set of rolls, each of said belts having its outer surface channeled lengthwise to receive a portion of the bar to be straightened, said belts having the requisite thickness and resiliency to permit bending stresses to be applied therethrough to the bar without deforming the protuberances on the surface of the bar, the opposed channels of the belts around the opposed sets of rolls substantially defining the pass through the sets of rolls at right angles to the roll axes therein and being adapted to restrain the bar to that pass.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 that contains the following additional elements: a reel on which is coiled the reinforcing bar to be straightened, means sup porting the reel for rotation, means for braking the rotation of the reel as the bar is uncoiled therefrom, and feeder rolls for gripping an end of the bar to uncoil it under tension from the reel and for feeding the bar to the bending rolls for straightening.

3. Apparatus for straightening concrete reinforcing bars having spaced surface protuberances, comprising a first group of staggered and opposed bending rolls having all of their axes parallel and including a first set of spaced rolls and a second set of spaced rolls disposed opposite to those of the first set and in staggered relation thereto, the rolls of one of the sets being individually adjustable towards and away from the opposed rolls of the other set; a second group of staggered and opposed rolls similar to those of the first group but having all roll axes therein disposed at right angles to the roll axes of the first group, the second group of rolls being so disposed relative to the first group that the stock to be straightened may be moved successively through the groups of rolls; a separate endless belt of resilient material surrounding each set of rolls in each group, each of said belts having its outer surface channeled lengthwise and contoured in cross section for receiving approximately one half of the stock to be straightened, said belts having the requisite thickness and resiliency to permit bending stresses to be applied therethrough to the bar without deforming the protuberances on the surface of the bar, the opposed channels of the belts in each group of rolls defining the pass through that group at right angles to the roll axes therein and being adapted to restrain the stock both horizontally and vertically to that pass, and means for adjusting one of the groups of rolls as a unit to align the pass through that group of rolls with the pass through the other group of rolls.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 that includes the following additional elements: a reel on which is coiled the reinforcing bar to be straightened, a stand for rotatably supporting the reel, means for braking rotation of the reel when the bar is uncoiled therefrom, and means for uncoiling the bar from the reel and feeding it to the first group of bending rolls, said last means including two pairs of opposed feeder rolls and a separate endless belt of resilient material surrounding each set of feeder rolls, each belt having its outer surface channeled lengthwise and contoured in cross section for receiving approximately one half the thickness of the bar to be straightened and having the requisite thickness and resiliency to grip the bar without deforming the protuberances on the surface of the bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,400,764 Ollard Dec. 20, 1921 1,941,166 Eaton Dec. 26, 1933 2,001,637 Talbot May 14, 1935 2,719,562 Beegle Oct. 4, 1955 2,736,425 Fisk Feb. 28, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,656 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1934 59,027 France Apr. 22, 1954 

